by Cara Adams
“I have some savings. I was planning to have a vacation in Hawaii next winter. Seriously, Nerida, this attorney is a real piece of work. He’s nasty through and through. Be really careful.”
“I will. What’s the attorney’s name?”
“Mr. Lillington-Hall.”
That was two weeks ago, and Lacey had settled into the shared apartment well. She was now blonde with very short hair, and she stayed inside most of the time by choice.
Nerida had been researching Mr. Lillington-Hall and the company he worked with in her spare time. He had a bit of a reputation as an ambulance chaser, a bigot, and also as not being completely trustworthy.
Nerida learned that he’d gotten drunk at a charity cocktail party, hurled abuse, and tried to physically attack attorney Allegra Lee. Allegra had actually jumped up into her partner’s arms when Lillington-Hall had threatened to smash her feet or something like that. Apparently he’d just lost a case against her in court and was a sore loser as well as possibly dishonest.
Nerida had tracked Allegra Lee down at The Dom’s Dungeon that night and now had an appointment to meet her the next morning in her office. She planned to ask questions about him. She hoped the firm Allegra worked for, Bailey and Bond Attorneys at Law, would be sufficiently interested in him to pay her to research him thoroughly. Proving her sister innocent was at the top of her to-do list right now, although nailing Lillington-Hall was a close second.
I’ll get him, Lacey. Don’t worry. I’ll catch him out, prove you’re innocent, and nail his fucking balls to the wall for you.
Chapter Two
Nerida wore what she termed her “going to meetings uniform.” Jeans, a blue sweater, and black athletic shoes. It made her close to invisible in a crowd of other jean-clad twenty and thirtysomethings, she believed. It also had the added benefit of giving her pockets so she didn’t need to carry a purse and shoes she could walk or run in if she needed to. She had her cell phone, keys, wallet, and a thumb drive, which held only the information she was prepared to share on this case on it, in her pockets.
Nerida stood in the foyer of her apartment building for five minutes, scanning the neighborhood, but saw no one watching the doorway. She didn’t think she’d ever been followed, but she always took precautions to maintain her privacy, and she’d become even more careful since she’d started researching Mr. Lillington-Hall. He probably wasn’t associated with the mob, but he was definitely not a nice person, and she’d be very surprised if he played by the rules. Her aim was to stay under his radar and out of his reach.
Consequently she’d allowed an hour for a journey that would have taken her twenty minutes by car. Not that she ever went to client meetings in her own vehicle. She really wasn’t that naive. So she entertained herself by taking three different buses in various directions before catching the one that would take her to Bailey and Bond’s office. She was absolutely certain no one had followed her.
The office was in a large building near the heart of the city of Richmond. She took the elevator to the fourth floor and waited for the receptionist to end the call she was answering before speaking.
“Hi, I’m Nerida. I have an appointment with Allegra Lee.”
If the receptionist was surprised she hadn’t given her last name, the woman didn’t show it. “Please take a seat, ma’am. I’ll tell her you’re here.”
Instead of sitting, Nerida stared out the huge windows. They weren’t particularly high up, but there was still a reasonable view out over the street and the surrounding area. She heard a door open, and footsteps, so she turned around, expecting to see an assistant coming to collect her, but it was Allegra herself.
“Come on through, Nerida.”
Obediently Nerida followed her down a hallway and into quite a spacious office. Allegra shut the door behind them and pointed to the client chair. “Now, tell me why you came to me personally and what you know about Mr. Lillington-Hall.”
“If I answer your question, I’ll bill you for my time today. I’m a researcher. Knowledge is how I earn my paycheck.”
Allegra smiled at her. Nerida was surprised. She thought the attorney might have been angry, but it was the truth. The only person paying Nerida’s bills was Nerida herself.
“That’s fine. I have a budget for your work. It’s not a big budget, but it’ll certainly cover your travel time here and your appointment with me today.”
Nerida heaved a sigh of relief. “My sister lost her job a couple of weeks ago. Some money has vanished from one of the company accounts, and her boss blamed her for it. But my sister had no access to those accounts. She doesn’t know the passwords to them and doesn’t deal with the banking. She’s an admin assistant, not a bookkeeper or accountant. She tried to explain her position, but her boss wasn’t listening, and the next thing she knew, an attorney had been hired to pressure her to admit to the theft and threaten her with jail. When she came to me, I first looked into her boss’s details, but short of accessing his bank accounts, I couldn’t get far with him. So I started researching the attorney, and I heard about how he’d threatened you in public, which is why I approached you last night.”
“The court case I won is public knowledge, but how did you know where to find me last night?”
Nerida just stared at Allegra. “I’m a researcher. I find things out. It’s my job.”
Allegra’s gaze was piercing, and Nerida was glad she wasn’t on the opposite side of the courtroom to her right now. “I see. You tracking me down was your demonstration that you’re good at your job and that I should hire you.”
It wasn’t exactly a question, but Nerida nodded anyway. “Sort of.”
“Why did you shift your attention to the attorney instead of continuing to focus on your sister’s manager?”
“Firstly, Lacey isn’t sure he’s the one who took the money. He certainly could have. He has all the relevant passwords and access, and he was the one trying to make her take the blame. But she doesn’t know who the thief is. The attorney is the one threatening and harassing her. He seemed to be the more urgent danger to her personally, especially as I have no way to look at people’s bank accounts. I’m a researcher, not a detective.”
“What have you found out about Mr. Lillington-Hall so far, apart from the fact that he was unhappy about losing against me?” asked Allegra.
Nerida took a deep breath and listed some of her discoveries. “Over the last few years he’s slid down the food chain quite measurably. He gets a lot of small cases now, ones that aren’t very important. Also he’s gotten quite…um…open-minded about the route he takes to win a case. I mentioned to you last night that he’s known to give gifts to helpful people. He also can become quite spiteful to unhelpful people, such as yourself. The third thing is that he surrounds himself with the kind of people my mom would have termed ‘bad company.’ Maybe they’re leading him astray.” It was the most politically correct way she could think of saying the man seemed to be a liar, a cheat, and a bully, even if he was a fancy, high-priced attorney.
“Aha. We can proceed from here either of two ways. You can do your own research at your own speed and in your own way, sending me an account and a report at the end of each few days. I’ll warn you if the budget is about to run out. Or you could sign a confidentially agreement, which prohibits you from using any information you learn from Bailey and Bond files for any of your other cases without our permission. Then you would have free rein of our library.”
“Would that prevent me from using the information to aid my sister?”
“Not at all. All Bailey and Bond staff are required to work pro bono for four hours per week. I’ll add your sister’s case to my pro bono list, and if Lillington-Hall does act against her, I’ll oppose him on her behalf.”
Nerida smiled and jumped up to thank Allegra. “I’ve been really worried I’m getting out of my depth here. Thank you so much for acting as Lacey’s backup man. I’ll sign the form now if you wish.”
Allegra printed the
forms off from her computer, and Nerida read them carefully before signing them. They were very similar to agreements she’d signed before. All companies liked to protect their personal data and discoveries.
“Follow me and I’ll take you to the library. The librarian will be able to give you any help you need.”
For the first time in two weeks, Nerida felt confident she could clear her sister’s name. With the strength of a company like Bailey and Bond behind her, she’d have no trouble nailing the bastard. Oh sure, she might exceed the budget they’d allowed for her, but once she did, she’d keep working on her own dime. Lacey’s entire future depended on Nerida clearing her name for her.
* * * *
Like most clubs, The Dom’s Dungeon really came to life at night. But since the co-owners, Leif and Simon, had mated Tammy, they’d been expanding the party rooms more during the day to include slightly risqué birthday, anniversary, bachelorette, and farewell parties. Tammy and Trinidad, who was mated to two other club staff, Niel and Kon, had worked hard to trial all sorts of new ideas for the party rooms.
Today, instead of resting while a staff member restocked the bar, Gavan was hard at work demonstrating to a crowd of eager women how to make a range of mocktails and cocktails. He deliberately let his artistic and flamboyant side run loose, knowing the women’s pleasure in the event was enhanced by his flirting, teasing, and dramatic demonstrations. Nonetheless, by the time his section of the party was over, he was as exhausted as if he’d just led an incredibly demanding sub through a dungeon scene.
Except the only sub he wanted right now was the brown-haired woman he’d seen talking to Cam and Hammer last night. I hope the fuck Taj gets her details. He knew Taj was as interested in her as he was. If anyone would find out her name and cell phone number, it’d be Taj.
Gavan kept his legs spread wide, and one hand on his hip, trying to look at Dom as possible while he rubbed his beard. His woman was average height and weight, and her brown hair was short and wavy. He estimated her at around Taj’s age. What he couldn’t estimate, though, was why she’d come into the dungeon at all. Well, he knew she wanted to speak with Allegra. That was obvious. But why then? Why in the evening when Allegra was with her men, instead of making an appointment in office hours? Hell, Adelaide could have as easily given the woman Allegra’s office number as take her into the Stage Lounge. More easily in fact because she wouldn’t have had to leave the reception desk to do it.
So clearly the woman had a powerful reason for a face-to-face conversation. Gavan had no idea what that could be. If she was a client, she’d have had Allegra’s cell phone number. It was none of his business, and likely not even important. But it nagged at Gavan. He wanted to know all about his woman. He wanted to be sure she was happy and safe. And someone who spoke to an attorney and then totally disappeared struck him as maybe someone who wasn’t safe at all. Someone who was intent on not being followed or discovered.
Dammit, he couldn’t wait for Taj to report back to him. Gavan slid his cell phone out of his pocket. He had it set to vibrate, not to ring, and even though he hadn’t felt it vibrate yet, he was almost willing Taj to contact him with her name and number.
I can’t plan anything for her pleasure until I know something about her. I need her. She’s mine.
* * * *
Taj loved his job. He found it immensely satisfying to see the changes in a structure after he’d worked on it. Sometimes they created an entirely new interior from a building, and other times it was simply a matter of restoring rooms to their original splendor. But either way he loved the work, the process, and, most of all, the results. Right now Nelson’s Building and Home Maintenance had just begun work on a quaint old cottage. The young couple who’d purchased it only wanted the crew to fix the basics. The new owners planned to finish the work themselves over time.
Taj was replacing some rotted timbers around the windows today, and he spent most of his time thinking about how to ask Cam or Hammer for the name of the woman who’d come to their table at the BDSM club the previous night.
It was a little bit tricky though. He didn’t want his request to sound as if he’d been stalking them, or even just staring at them. Also, what the fuck was he supposed to say about why he wanted the woman’s name? It wasn’t as though she was Cinderella and he had to give her back her missing shoe. And he could hardly begin a conversation by saying, “Hey, I wanna fuck that woman you met last night. Can you give me her cell phone number?”
What if she was their sister or something? He could end up with his balls cut off and stuffed in his mouth. Damn! This was harder than he’d thought it would be. He’d never had to open a conversation quite like this before.
Finally he waited until they were all on their lunch break and went and sat beside Hammer. Hammer was a Dom, so likely he was the more appropriate person to ask. Also, he probably knew Gavan better than Cam did.
“Uh, Hammer, I was hoping you could give me the name and cell phone number of the lady in blue who Allegra spoke to last night?”
Hammer stared at him, his coffee halfway to his mouth. “Whatever for?”
“She looked kinda cute.”
“Well, yes, I suppose she is. How much did you drink last night?”
“Not much. What’s her name?”
Hammer glanced over at Cam. Taj was certain they were communicating with each other without saying a word. He wondered, if he and Gavan spent more time together, whether they’d develop that ability as well. The ability to know how someone else felt about things.
“I can’t help you. Why don’t you talk to Allegra?”
Well fuck!
Taj pulled out his cell phone and texted Gavan.
They won’t tell me. Said to ask Allegra.
Taj had finished his lunch and was getting ready to start work again when his cell beeped.
I will.
He smiled. Good. Gavan was going to deal with it. Allegra had been wonderfully friendly and helpful when she’d come to a company cookout. She’d even helped him learn how to do a somersault into a swimming pool when there was no diving board to use. But that didn’t mean she’d introduce him and Gavan to her friend. He also knew she could be a fierce opponent in a courtroom, although he had never seen that side of her—and hoped like hell he never had to.
Mentally, Taj wished Gavan good luck and got back to work. Maybe tomorrow they’d be sitting in The Dom’s Dungeon eating dinner with their woman.
* * * *
The library at Bailey and Bond wasn’t particularly big, no bigger than a large conference room really, but every inch of it was crammed with a Compactus holding thousands of thick files and boxes of information. Allegra introduced Nerida to the librarian and left her there.
The librarian’s desk was tucked into a corner of the room and almost hidden behind towering mountains of files, but the woman was friendly and helpful, sitting Nerida at the only table in the room and showing her how to search the library database on the computer there.
Nerida understood database searching. It was what she did best. It didn’t take her long to grasp the complexities of the system and begin collecting files from the Compactus to read. The librarian silently placed a notebook and pen beside her, and Nerida got to work.
She was deep in a file tracing Mr. Lillington-Hall’s actions in a case a year ago when Allegra reappeared. “I’ve found something I think will be useful,” she said to Allegra, assuming Allegra had come for a status update.
“Already? That’s excellent. Can you come out into the hallway with me for a moment please?”
Nerida couldn’t imagine what Allegra wanted to say that she didn’t want the librarian to hear, but she did as she was asked. Allegra was effectively her boss right now.
“Do you know Gavan, the barman with a beard at The Dom’s Dungeon?”
Suddenly Nerida’s knees felt weak and wobbly with fear, and she leaned against the wall. “Did he see me there last night? Does he work for Lillington-Hall? I
s he going to hurt Lacey?”
“Yes, he saw you last night. No, he certainly doesn’t work for Lillington-Hall. And thirdly, I can’t imagine him hurting anyone unless they asked him to do that in a dungeon scene. Now, how about you answer my question.”
Nerida straightened up again with a rush of relief. “Sorry. No, I don’t know him. I didn’t order a drink. But if you’re sure he doesn’t intend to tell Lillington-Hall where Lacey is, why are you asking me?”
“I have another question for you first.”
Nerida stared at Allegra. She was serious but not worried or angry. She just looked normal. Nerida asked, “Yes?”
“Do you know Taj Barlow?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever known any Tajes. That’s a very unusual name.”
“Taj works for Nelson’s Building and Home Maintenance. I know some of the people there, and he seems to be a perfectly nice person, as is Gavan. But that will be for you to decide. They both want to date you.”
Nerida found herself leaning against the wall again. “Both of them want to date me? As in they’re going to fight over me? Whatever for?”
Allegra laughed. “I think they’re more likely to share you than fight over you, but you don’t have to agree. A woman is free to tell any number of men she’s not interested in them.”
“Share me?”
“Have you ever thought about dating two men together?”
Nerida had. Wasn’t that every woman’s fantasy, just as every man pictured himself with two or three women? But it was a fantasy, not real life. “Are you saying that Gavan and Taj both want a date with me? Really? Not a double date with me and someone else? Just one of me and two of them?”
“Yes. The question is, are you willing for me to tell them your name and cell phone number so they can set the date up?”
“I don’t give very many people my personal details. A lot of the research I do means someone isn’t going to be happy with what I learn. You can tell them my first name and give them my business e-mail address if you want to. Although I’m still surprised they’re interested. How do they even know about me since I don’t know them?”